Cartridge-box



(No Model.)

C. G. 8v J. G. MAC CONNELL.

Cartridge Box. *y

No. 243,144. Y Patented June 21,1881.

N. PETERS. muthugrzpher. Wzlhhm Rc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. MACCONNELL, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, AND JOHN G. MACCONNELL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARTRIDGE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,144, dated June 21, 1881.

Application iled November 22, 1880.

To all whom lLt may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. MAGCON- NELL, Captain Fifth Artillery, United States Army, stationed at Atlanta, Georgia, but a resident ofPittsburg,Allegheny county,Penn Sylvania, and JOHN G. MACCONNELL, of Pittsburg. county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Cartridge-Boxes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-like lettersindicating like parts- Figure l is an outside view, in perspective, of our improved cartridge-box, showing the same closed. Fig. 2 is a like View, showing the same open and with the pocket dropped forward into position for use in the insertion or removal of a cartridge or cartridges. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 2 through the extractor-socket; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the screw-driver socket.

Our present invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of cartridgeboxes especially adapted to army service, and which, while possessing in a high degree the usually 4known and admitted good qualities of a cartridge-box, shall furthermore have such construction that when unbuttoned or loosened the cartridge pocket or receptacle shall automatically turn to a position in which the cartridges, some or all of them, shall be presented for removal clear of the cover. When the action is over, or no further necessity exists for ring, the pocket is swung back into its case, and by the buttoning up, or otherwise securing the box, the unused cartridges are properly protected.

Considering the entire device as a box, the back a, the top a', and ends a?, are made of thel usual stift' leather or other material, and for practicall purposes may be described as rigid or iniiexible. Two or more loops, one of which is shown at b, are added in the usual way for the usual carrying purposes. Inside the case thus formed is a pocket or cartridgereceptacle, c. This pocket has a bottom, front, and back sides and ends, which are close, or practically so, and it is secured to the case at (No model.)

its lower back corner edge, as at c', by any suitable means of attachment, or by extending the leather of the back a forward into the construction of the pocket, giving in either case what is practically a hinge or a Ilexible joint. The pocket, when swung into the case, as in Fig. l, is secured therein by means of a flexible tongue, d, which buttonsonto a button, d', attached to the pocket front, though other fastening device oflike function may be substitutedV therefor.

In order to limit the extent of outward motion or swing of the pocket when the tongue is unbuttoned, so that while the cartridges shall be presented for removal clear of the top of the case, and still shall not be liable to fall out, we connect the pocket, at or near the upper part thereof, with the case by one or more (and preferably one at each end) light but strong flexible straps e, of suitable length to permit and limit the motion described. These straps may be crimped at about their middle point, as at e', or otherwise so treated as readily to fold back out ofthe way when the box is closed.

lt will also be observed that the breadth of the top or cover a', from its rear corner to its front 'downwardly-sloping edge, is equal, or about equal, to the extent of motion of the tilting-pocket, so that without the necessary disturbance or movement of the cover the pocket will, on the loosening of the fastening d d', tilt outwardly, so as to present its cartridges, some or all of them, outside the front edge ot' the top or cover.

On the under side of the box we make sockets or receptacles, of which the one, g, is of suitable size and length for carrying an extractor, and the other, g', is of size and length for the screw-driver. Other like sockets may be added, if desired, but for ordinary army use or purposes/these will suffice.

While the size or capacity of the box may be varied at pleasure, we prefer to shape and proportion it for army use, so that one or two of the paper cases in which the cartridges are usually packed at the manufactory may, with their contents, be inserted directly into the pocket, so as to Iit neatly therein, as shown at s. Such cartridges are usually put up in cases, with twenty cartridges in a case, each car- IOO tridge being separately packed. Then such a case or package, with the cartridges included, may be inserted in the pocket without rehandling and the cartridges used, as described.

The capacity ofthe box may be doubled by doubling its vertical depth, so as to take in two sections or cases, instead ot' one, and after the upper section is emptied they may be reversed.

Instead of the flexible hanging straps e, other suitable connection may be employed, such as will permit the turning of the pocket on its hinge or flexible joint when the box is unbuttoned or its fastening loosened, but will limit or stop such turning motion at or about the point at which the ends ofthe cartridges, some or all of them, will be clear of the front edge of the rigid part ot' the cover a', that being about the point for their proper presentation; but we do notlimit ourselves to any particular point at which to stop such outward turning of the pocket, except that it must not turn so far as to be in danger of emptying itself. A metal plate, for example, having a curved groove or slot with closed ends may be set in the case ends a2, and a pin on each end ofthe pocket may play in such grooves, and such or other device of like function we include herein as the mechanical equivalents of the hangerstraps shown.

W'e claim herein as our inventionl. A cartridge-box havin g acartridge-pocket hinged or flexibly jointed to the case, and provided with means for allowing a tilting motion, in combination with a lrop or cover, a', having a breadth corresponding substantially to such limited range ot' tilting motion, whereby the cartridges in the pocket shall, some or all of them, be presented outside the front edge of the top or cover on the loosening of the coverfastening, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the tilting pocket of a cartridge-box provided with means for allowing a limited tilting movement, a top or cover', a', adapted to uncover the pocket when the latter is tilted out, and provided with a suitable fastening for securing the cover and tilting pocket directly to each other when the pocket is tilted back, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereo't` we have hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES C. MACCONNELL. JNO. Gr. MACCONNELL.

Witnesses to signature of 0.0. MacConnel:

H. J. F. BREWERTON, J. E. SAWYER.

Witnesses to signature ofJ. Gr. MacConnell:

It H. WHrr'rLEsEY, C. L. PARKER. 

